Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Goura
|
| Species: |
scheepmakeri
|
The Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon (Goura scheepmakeri) is a very large bird. It is a type of pigeon that lives mostly on the ground. You can only find it in the lowland forests of southeastern New Guinea.
This amazing bird has feathers that are bluish-grey. It also has beautiful blue, lacy feathers on its head, which look like a crown! Its eyes are red, and its chest is a deep maroon color. Both male and female pigeons look very much alike.
The Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon is about 70 cm (28 in) long. It weighs around 2,250 grams (5 lbs). This makes it the second largest living pigeon species in the world. Only the Victoria crowned pigeon is bigger!
About This Special Pigeon
The Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon was first described by a German zoologist named Otto Finsch. He received a live bird from a dealer named C. Scheepmaker. This bird was at the Amsterdam Zoo. Finsch decided to name the pigeon after Mr. Scheepmaker.
For a while, people thought this pigeon was the same as the Sclater's crowned pigeon. But in 2018, scientists did a study using DNA. They found that the Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon is actually most closely related to the Victoria crowned pigeon.
Why This Pigeon Needs Our Help
These pigeons are very calm and easy to approach. Because of this, they have been hunted a lot for their meat and beautiful feathers. This has made their numbers go down.
Today, the Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon is considered a Vulnerable animal. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. It is listed on the IUCN Red List, which tracks threatened species. It is also protected by CITES, an international agreement that helps control trade in wild animals and plants.
